Ruhullah Says He Will Respond Soon to Farooq Abdullah’s Resignation Challenge
Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has said he will respond within the next few days to National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s demand that he resign from the Lok Sabha and seek a fresh mandate. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ruhullah did not directly confirm whether he would accept the challenge. However, his remarks suggested that he was taking the veteran NC leader’s demand seriously.
“It is not possible that Doctor Sahib asks me for something and I don’t give it to him. It is not possible that I send him back empty-handed,” Ruhullah said.
He added that he had great respect for Farooq Abdullah and did not want to refuse a request from him.
“I will give an answer in a few days,” the Srinagar MP said.
Farooq Abdullah challenges Ruhullah
Ruhullah’s comments came a day after Farooq Abdullah publicly challenged him to resign from Parliament and return to the voters if he believed his 2024 Lok Sabha victory was mainly the result of his personal popularity.
“If you think people voted for you, resign and go back to them. We will see how many votes you get,” Abdullah said.
The remarks have added to growing public differences between Ruhullah and the National Conference leadership over the party’s political approach towards Jammu and Kashmir.
Dispute over Article 370 and constitutional rights
The disagreement has particularly focused on the restoration of Article 370, statehood and Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
Farooq Abdullah has said Ruhullah is free to raise the issue of Article 370 in Parliament, but has questioned the way the Srinagar MP is pursuing the matter.
“If he thinks Article 370 can be restored, he should take up the issue in Parliament,” Abdullah said.
The NC president has also stressed the importance of the party organisation and its workers, arguing that candidates who contest elections on the National Conference ticket benefit from the support of the wider party organisation.
Ruhullah, meanwhile, has maintained that his political position reflects the mandate given to him by voters. He has repeatedly said that the struggle for Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights remains unfinished.
Earlier, Ruhullah had challenged the party to issue him a formal show-cause notice rather than simply asking him to resign. He also said he would continue his campaign for the restoration of Article 370.
Growing differences within the National Conference
The latest exchange is part of a wider disagreement that has become increasingly public in recent weeks.
Ruhullah has criticised what he sees as a shift in the party’s political priorities, arguing that the focus should remain on constitutional rights and the restoration of Article 370 rather than being limited to the demand for statehood.
He has also indicated that he could eventually resign from Parliament after taking his campaign on constitutional rights to a certain stage.
Farooq Abdullah, however, has defended the importance of party discipline and organisation while maintaining that differences within political parties are not unusual.
The latest developments have therefore raised questions about whether the disagreement will remain an internal debate within the National Conference or develop into a more serious political confrontation.
Ruhullah on Kashmiri Pandit cases
Ruhullah was also asked about the reopening of cases relating to Kashmiri Pandits.
He said justice should be delivered but warned against using the process for revenge.
“Everyone should be aware of Kashmiri Pandits. Justice should be delivered. There should be no revenge in the name of justice,” he said.
His remarks highlighted his position that accountability and justice should go hand in hand with reconciliation, rather than being used to settle political or communal scores.
What happens next?
Ruhullah’s statement that he will respond within a few days means the political dispute could enter a new phase.
If he accepts Farooq Abdullah’s challenge and resigns, a fresh election could become a significant test of his personal support among Srinagar voters.
If he rejects the demand, the disagreement over party discipline, political mandates and the National Conference’s approach to Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional issues is likely to continue.
For now, all eyes are on Ruhullah’s promised response to Farooq Abdullah’s resignation challenge.
